Gifts from TA

[mbaker]

Has anyone received a stateroom gift from Small World Vacations?
We are using them in September on the Magic.
I'm still not sure if I'm happy with their service.
Sometimes I feel like I'm bothering my TA.

 

[ljql_5969]

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[mbaker]

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[ljql_5969]

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[mbaker]

Beach towel? Where did that deal come from? Did your TA tell you?
I got 75 rebate coming my way after the trip.
I'll take a towel too.
CC gift used to be a towel, now it's a tote bag.

 

[Admiral Boom]

So switch to Dana @ MICDAN. She is wonderful and you are never putting her out.

 

[petchie]

In this day and age I do expect something in my cabin from a TA. .

I think that your rebate on the cruise is your gift, the money comes out of their comission.

 

[Castle Wench]

In this day and age I do expect something in my cabin from a TA.
I haven't used one in years. I've booked my own cruises online, it's cheaper.

Computers also don't make you feel put out. Again, in this day and age TAs should be jumping through hoops for our business, the internet will send them the way of the dinosaur. I work in TV news and do these stories all the time.
Sometimes I feel bad for the Mom & Pop, sometimes.

I'm not giving my TA a bad name, I feel the same as you... put out after my last call.

I think it's a shame that so many people seem to believe they are entitled to something 'special' simply for booking a trip through this agency or that. If you've ever worked with the general public you should have some idea of how difficult people can be at times. Not that this is any excuse for bad manners, of course.

My TA at Small World has never made me feel as if I were 'bothering' her no matter how many stupid questions I may have asked in the beginning. I certainly do not expect or believe I am entitled to a gift from her. In fact, it should be the other way around. She's done a lot of work on my behalf and is the one who deserves the gift.

 

[TMTIP]

I think people expect TA's to swoon and drool over them at every moment, everytime they call. I agree there is no excuse for rude behavior but until you've walked in their shoes I don't think you should be so quick to judge. I'm always surprised at the attitude of people on this board that think the TA should consider themselves "lucky" if you call them. Yes, a booking is wonderful but give me a break, it's a job, just like yours, not a matter of servitude. Yes, I am a travel agent. It's a job you have to LOVE (and I do)or its not really worth it, you're not going to get rich with the pay.

 

[smilingmouse]

So switch to Dana @ MICDAN. She is wonderful and you are never putting her out.

I couldn't agree with you more!!! Dana is the best

 

[mbaker]

I think it's a shame that so many people seem to believe they are entitled to something 'special' simply for booking a trip through this agency or that. If you've ever worked with the general public you should have some idea of how difficult people can be at times. Not that this is any excuse for bad manners, of course.

My TA at Small World has never made me feel as if I were 'bothering' her no matter how many stupid questions I may have asked in the beginning. I certainly do not expect or believe I am entitled to a gift from her. In fact, it should be the other way around. She's done a lot of work on my behalf and is the one who deserves the gift.

To each their own. I disagree, freebies are attractive. People would not offer them if they didn't have to. Why do kids like Happy Meals... free toy.

Who's your TA? Maybe I'm with the wrong gal.

 

[ldb1030]

I think people expect TA's to swoon and drool over them at every moment, everytime they call. I agree there is no excuse for rude behavior but until you've walked in their shoes I don't think you should be so quick to judge. I'm always surprised at the attitude of people on this board that think the TA should consider themselves "lucky" if you call them. Yes, a booking is wonderful but give me a break, it's a job, just like yours, not a matter of servitude. Yes, I am a travel agent. It's a job you have to LOVE (and I do)or its not really worth it, you're not going to get rich with the pay.

From one travel agent to the other.........AMEN!!!!!!! Commissions are so small or don't even exist anymore and people think agencies make WAY more than they do! You could give the best service in the world but if you are not able to send a gift to the cabin (and the gifts are not cheap!), people get totally pissed off!
Well, some people on this board anyway!

 

[lindakmonty]

Sorry, I don't think anything is "free" you're paying for it somewhere in the price! It was nice getting picture frames and such from AAA, but I'll go with the cheapest price I can find because you'll get your beach towel or whatever from Disney waiting anyway!

 

[Castle Wench]

To each their own. I disagree, freebies are attractive. People would not offer them if they didn't have to. Why do kids like Happy Meals... free toy.

Who's your TA? Maybe I'm with the wrong gal.

Well, of course, gifts are nice to receive but nothing is free, not even that toy at McDonald's. Someone, somewhere is paying for the cost of giving it to you. In the case of TA's it comes directly out of their pockets. If I'm a 'difficult' client I highly doubt my TA would wish to send me a gift. Gifts are given out of kindness or at least they should be, not because one is expected or because 'everyone else' does it.

 

[Joan1]

My cousin was just talking about this the other day, she used to be a travel agent and has since retired.

This is the example she gave. You have someone paying $3000 for a cruise for 4 people, the commission that the agency gets on that is actually about $230.00 then the agency usually splits that with the agent so the agent is only getting $115.00. If they send a gift that is $30, not much is available under that with cruise lines that is nice, now the agent is only making $85 on that one booking. That is not counting any mailing costs that they have already incurred by sending you the confirmations, brochures, etc

She also said that most agents decide to send a gift on their own as normally the agency owner does not split the cost of the gift with them

As you can see it isn't a whole lot for the amount of work that they do
She was a travel agent as long as she was because she loved the planning part and I am sure that other TA's on this board will agree that they do it because they love it not for the money

 

[ldb1030]

My cousin was just talking about this the other day, she used to be a travel agent and has since retired.

This is the example she gave. You have someone paying $3000 for a cruise for 4 people, the commission that the agency gets on that is actually about $230.00 then the agency usually splits that with the agent so the agent is only getting $115.00. If they send a gift that is $30, not much is available under that with cruise lines that is nice, now the agent is only making $85 on that one booking. That is not counting any mailing costs that they have already incurred by sending you the confirmations, brochures, etc

She also said that most agents decide to send a gift on their own as normally the agency owner does not split the cost of the gift with them

As you can see it isn't a whole lot for the amount of work that they do
She was a travel agent as long as she was because she loved the planning part and I am sure that other TA's on this board will agree that they do it because they love it not for the money

I don't make any commission! (alot of agents don't, some work for only commission.) I'm paid by the hour!
I won't turn this into a debate on how much commission is made etc. but by the time you pay salary, rent, computers, supplies, etc etc etc. there is not usually alot left! At our agency we always do whatever we can and feel bad when we can't do anything but some cruises (not DCL) are so cheap, we make VERY little!

 

[nuke]

I don't make any commission! (alot of agents don't, some work for only commission.) I'm paid by the hour!
I won't turn this into a debate on how much commission is made etc. but by the time you pay salary, rent, computers, supplies, etc etc etc. there is not usually alot left! At our agency we always do whatever we can and feel bad when we can't do anything but some cruises (not DCL) are so cheap, we make VERY little!

There is very little left over as profit. Then remember on top of making little money we are also held responsible for flight delays, bad weather, noisy cabins or noisy neighbors, bad food, rude locals etc. like we have any control over any of that.

Yes it's definately a labor of love not money.

 

[Joan1]

I don't make any commission! (alot of agents don't, some work for only commission.) I'm paid by the hour!
I won't turn this into a debate on how much commission is made etc. but by the time you pay salary, rent, computers, supplies, etc etc etc. there is not usually alot left! At our agency we always do whatever we can and feel bad when we can't do anything but some cruises (not DCL) are so cheap, we make VERY little!

I may be wrong but unless you work for AAA or another large agency like that most TA's work on commission only.

If you are paid by the hour then you are paid whether someone books or not? Is that correct?

I am not a TA so I am just trying to understand

 

[ashman]

The challenge here is both TA’s and cruiser’s trying to see things from the other point of view. For the cruisers remember that the TA’s deal with these issues every day, day in day out. Often times it is easy to forget that what is scary or new to you is mundane and everyday for the TA. They have to get (just guessing not a TA myself) tired of the same questions day in and out. Sending clients information that the client doesn’t read and then call for an explanation. Having to deal with dreamers (like me! ) who inquire about cruises all the time but don’t often pull the trigger. It is easy as a cruising customer not to realize that.

I am sure that it is easy for the TA to forget that while this is the everyday for you this is very exciting/scary for us. The cruise while a good value for the money is still a lot of money. When spending that kind of money we often want someone to be with us along the way. We want someone to care about it as much as we do. It is a special day time for us even if it is another day for you.

One the other had you have five fingers! Just the mindless musings of an attorney on his lunch break with too many cruise dreams in his head!

 

[mott]

I'm not a travel agent, but have thougt about it for a second career - because I LOVE to travel. But here is my 2 cents: You should pick a TA either because you like the person, or because they have given you a great deal or both. IF you should be lucky enought to get a gift, then rejoice. Afterall it is a gift - not a booking bonus. A gift is something we recieve even though we might not deserve it. NOT something to be expected. A gift for one person might be a bottle of wine for another it might be a towel and for another a bag - no one should expect to get the same thing as someone else unless it is specifically stated in the ad - don't you think? Why set yourself up for dissapointment. Just relax and get ready for the best cruise you have ever taken - and if there is a gift in your room when you get there - enjoy it too.